It's impossible to categorically state which breakthrough has had the greatest impact on our modern world, but harnessing electricity would have to be right up there. It's hard for most of us to imagine our lives without it – you wouldn't be reading this for a start. From electric lighting to instantaneous global communications, the evolution of electronics is far from over – keep up to date with the latest developments here.
Limiting the expansion, and ultimate ubiquity, of the Internet of Things has been the cost, power and size of the enabling electronics – all things that have been addressed by a new fabrication method for tiny, thin-film electronic circuits.
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The concept of an invisibility cloak sounds like pure science fiction. But researchers have developed a new device that works in a completely different way to existing technology, neatly sidestepping some past issues and potentially helping to hide everyday objects under everyday conditions.
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"World’s smallest computer” is a contentious title, not just because scientists are racing to shrink devices, but because the very definition of a computer could be up for debate. The latest claim to the title is a tiny device that communicates through light and makes a grain of rice look gigantic.
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To cut down on the false alarms, an MIT team of engineers is working on new "smart outlets" that use neural networks to not only determine if a detected electric arc is dangerous, but also what type of devices are plugged into the outlet.
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The wireless audio experts at Sonos just unveiled their newest device: The Sonos Beam. Built specifically for the living room, and with Amazon Alexa functionality on board, it rolls the functions of a smart speaker and a soundbar into a single device.
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Most batteries have a cathode on one side and an anode on the other, with a separator between them. Engineers at Cornell University have developed an unusual new structure that intertwines the components together in a swirling shape, which they say lets the device recharge in a matter of seconds.
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Scientists have developed what they claim is the “smallest and cheapest” electronic nose for sniffing out people, designed with earthquake and avalanche rescue in mind. The nose detects various substances which would provide the crucial “chemical fingerprint” showing the presence of human life.
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Waste heat generated by electronics can damage components, and represents a large amount of energy going to waste. Now scientists at the UCB have developed a thin film that could be built into computers, cars or factories to capture and recycle the energy from waste heat.
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MIT spin off company Ayar Labs is combining electrons and light in new optoelectronic chips to speed up data transmission and reduce energy consumption in chip-to-chip communications by 95 percent.
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Researchers have made an incredible advance in the field of real-time projection mapping, creating a new system that can simulate the way light reflects off a nonexistent 3D structure. The result is stunningly realistic dynamic projection that heralds a new generation of trippy performance art.
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